CVE-2025-43223: Apple iPadOS Denial-of-Service Vulnerability

CVE-2025-43223 Overview

CVE-2025-43223 is a denial-of-service vulnerability affecting multiple Apple operating systems. The flaw allows a non-privileged user to modify restricted network settings, enabling disruption of network availability on the affected device. Apple addressed the issue through improved input validation [CWE-20].

The vulnerability impacts iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, visionOS, and watchOS. It is fixed in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6.

Critical Impact

A non-privileged user can modify restricted network settings, producing a denial-of-service condition with high availability impact across Apple's operating system portfolio.

Affected Products

• Apple iOS and iPadOS (fixed in iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9)
• Apple macOS (fixed in Sequoia 15.6, Sonoma 14.7.7, Ventura 13.7.7)
• Apple tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, and watchOS 11.6

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-30 - CVE-2025-43223 published to NVD
• 2026-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-43223

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper input validation in the component that governs network configuration on Apple operating systems. A non-privileged local user can supply input that the system fails to validate against expected boundaries. This allows modification of settings that should be restricted to privileged contexts.

The outcome is a denial-of-service condition. By altering restricted network settings, an attacker disrupts network connectivity or related services. The CWE-20 classification confirms the root issue is improper input validation rather than memory corruption or authentication bypass.

The attack vector is network-reachable per the published CVSS metrics, with high impact on availability and no impact on confidentiality or integrity. Apple's fix introduces stricter validation of input affecting the network settings interface, blocking unauthorized state changes.

Root Cause

The affected code path accepted user-supplied input without enforcing the privilege boundary required to modify network configuration. Improved input validation, as referenced in Apple's advisory, now rejects attempts by non-privileged users to alter these settings.

Attack Vector

A non-privileged user on an unpatched device issues a request to modify network configuration. The vulnerable code path fails to validate the request against the caller's privilege level. The resulting configuration change disrupts network functionality on the device.

No proof-of-concept code or in-the-wild exploitation has been published. Apple has not released technical details beyond the advisory text. Refer to the Apple Support Article #124147 and related advisories for vendor guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43223

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected changes to network configuration profiles or interface settings on Apple endpoints.
• Loss of network connectivity correlated with non-administrative user activity.
• System log entries showing network setting modifications initiated outside expected management channels (such as MDM).

Detection Strategies

• Inventory Apple devices and compare installed OS versions against the patched baselines (iOS/iPadOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, etc.).
• Monitor unified log entries on macOS for changes to network preferences and configuration daemons.
• Correlate endpoint telemetry with MDM configuration drift reports to identify unsanctioned setting changes.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable continuous OS version reporting via MDM platforms such as Jamf, Intune, or Kandji.
• Alert on devices running OS versions earlier than the fixed releases listed in Apple's advisories.
• Track repeated network-stack failures or configuration rollbacks that may indicate exploitation attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43223

Immediate Actions Required

• Update all Apple devices to the fixed OS versions: iOS 18.6, iPadOS 18.6, iPadOS 17.7.9, macOS Sequoia 15.6, macOS Sonoma 14.7.7, macOS Ventura 13.7.7, tvOS 18.6, visionOS 2.6, watchOS 11.6.
• Push updates through your MDM solution and enforce minimum OS version policies for compliance.
• Restrict standard user accounts from modifying network configuration where operationally feasible.

Patch Information

Apple released coordinated security updates across its OS portfolio. Patch details are documented in the vendor advisories: Apple Support #124147, #124148, #124149, #124150, #124151, #124153, #124154, and #124155.

Workarounds

• No vendor-supplied workaround exists. Apply the security updates as the primary remediation.
• Limit local account privileges and disable non-essential user accounts on shared devices until patches are deployed.
• Use configuration profiles to lock network settings on managed iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices.

# Verify macOS build version against the patched baseline
sw_vers -productVersion

# Example MDM compliance check (pseudo-command)
# Flag devices below the fixed versions
if [[ $(sw_vers -productVersion) < "15.6" ]]; then
  echo "Device requires CVE-2025-43223 patch"
fi